Haniyeh was elected as Head of Hamas Political Bureau in May 2017 succeeding Khaled Mashal, who completed his two terms in office. Haniyeh has been a senior political leader of Hamas for over 20 years and served as one of two disputed prime ministers of the Palestinian National Authority. The resistance shown by Hamas in launching the October 7 attacks have made him one of the most popular politicians in the Islamic world.

Background : Ismail Haniyeh, born in 1962 in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, is a prominent Palestinian political leader and a key figure in the Hamas movement. He graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza with a degree in Arabic literature and went on to become a teacher. Haniyeh’s political career took off when he joined Hamas in the late 1980s. Over the years, he rose through the ranks and eventually became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in 2006. His leadership and influence have been instrumental in shaping the Palestinian resistance movement.

Hamas : Hamas, (the Islamic Resistance Movement), was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising) against Israeli occupation. The organization’s main objectives are the liberation of Palestinian territories, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and resistance against Israel. Hamas has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades providing social services and engaging in armed struggle simultaneously. This dual approach has allowed Hamas to gain grassroots support among Palestinians.

Gaza: Gaza, a densely populated strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, faces extreme poverty and overcrowding. Housing over 2 million people in a mere 365 square kilometers, Gaza ranks among the most densely populated areas globally. More than half of its population lives below the poverty line, with access to basic necessities like clean water, electricity, and healthcare severely limited. The dire conditions, in Gaza, enforced through Israeli blocks and restrictions, have exacerbated the Palestinian
plight, fueling frustration and anger.

Israeli Attacks Since 2008 : Although Israel continued with draw its army from Gaza in 2005, it has its military offensives over the years often in direct response to Hamas firing rockets into Israel. Notable conflicts include Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009,
which included the war crime of repeatedly firing white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas; Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, and Operation Protective Edge in 2014. These military operations resulted in 6,500 Palestinian deaths and over 150,000 injured and 308 Israeli deaths and 6,000 injured. There has also been widespread destruction of infrastructure resulting in a further deterioration of living conditions in the already impoverished territory. The international community has repeatedly expressed concerns about the disproportionate use of force and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

7 October 2023 Hamas Attack: With relentless restrictions, provocations and attacks increasing in Gaza, the West Bank and especially around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Hamas launched a series of rocket attacks into southern Israel which served as cover for an unprecedented multi-pronged infiltration of fighters who crossed the border and penetrated at least three military installations as well as the settlements of Sderot, Be’eri, and Ofakim. Up to 300 Israelis were killed and some taken hostage. In response, the Israeli government declared that it was at war, initiating devastating airstrikes on Gaza while preparing for a full ground invasion.

Resistance:On the day that the Al-Aqsa Typhoon was launched, Haniyeh delivered a speech reaffirming Hamas’ commitment to the Palestinian cause and their determination to resist occupation. He emphasized the importance of unity among Palestinians and called for international support in their struggle for self-determination. Haniyeh said that Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi were red lines; That even if the whole world stood silent to it, the resistance would not. Haniyeh condemned Israel’s assassination of sheikhs and scholars and said that Hamas had confirmed intelligence that the occupation intends to impose its complete autonomy over Al-Aqsa Mosque and therefore this was a call to the whole Ummah to jihad. Haniyeh also said that normalization will not end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Our aim is clear: to liberate our land, our holy places and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to liberate Palestinian prisoners being tortured in Israeli prisons.”

“The underlying problem remains the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the continuing Israeli assaults against our people.”

90% water in Gaza is unpotable
81.5% poverty rate in Gaza